Tag Archives: Puerto Cortes

Hurricane Kay Hits Baja California

Hurricane Kay hit Baja California on Thursday afternoon. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Thursday the center of Hurricane Kay was located at latitude 27.1°N and longitude 114.3°W which put it about 70 miles (110 km) southeast of Punte Eugenia, Mexico. Kay was moving toward the north-northwest at 14 m.p.h. (22 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 75 m.p.h. (120 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 90 m.p.h. (145 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 982 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to San Jose De Las Palomas, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cortes to Punta Abreojos, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from San Jose De Las Palomas, Mexico to the border with the U.S. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Puerto Cortes, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was also in effect for the portion of the coast from San Evaristo to Guaymas, Mexico.

The center of Hurricane Kay made landfall on the west coast of Baja California southeast of Punta Eugenia on Thursday afternoon. Kay weakened slowly as it approached the west coast of Baja California. Winds to hurricane force extended out 35 miles (55 km) in the northeastern quadrant of Hurricane Kay. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 220 miles (350 km) from the center of Kay’s circulation. Bands in the eastern side of Hurricane Kay dropped heavy rain over parts of Baja California and there were reports of flash floods in some locations.

Hurricane Kay will continue to move toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. The center of Hurricane Kay will be over land during the next few hours before it moves back over water when the center gets north of Punta Eugenia. Kay will weaken steadily during the next 24 hours. The eastern half of Kay’s circulation will be flowing over Baja California, where the mountains will disrupt the flow of air. Hurricane Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 23˚C. Kay will continue to produce gusty winds and locally heavy rain over Baja California as it moves northwards.

Clouds in the rainbands will not rise as high into the atmosphere when Hurricane Kay weakens. Kay will be steered by winds closer to the surface on Friday. The winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere will steer Kay more toward the northwest on Friday. On its anticipated track, the center of Kay will be southeast of San Diego, California on Friday night. Kay could be a tropical storm when it is southeast of San Diego. Bands in the eastern side of Kay could bring gusty winds and locally heavy rain to parts of southern California and western Arizona. A High Wind Watch is in effect for parts of southern California. Flood Watches are in effect for parts of southern California and western Arizona.

Hurricane Kay Strengthens to Cat. 2

Hurricane Kay strengthened to Category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean southwest of Baja California on Wednesday morning. At 8:00 a.m. EDT on Wednesday the center of Hurricane Kay was located at latitude 20.6°N and longitude 112.3°W which put it about 220 miles (355 km) southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kay was moving toward the north-northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 120 m.p.h. (195 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 975 mb.

A Hurricane Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to San Jose De Las Palmas, Mexico. A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Puerto Cortes, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Bahia De Los Angeles, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning included Cabo San Lucas. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Bahia De Los Angeles to San Felipe, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from San Jose De Las Palmas to Cabo San Quintin, Mexico.

Hurricane Kay continue to strengthen on Wednesday morning. A circular eye was present at the center of Kay’s circulation. The eye was surrounded by a ring of strong thunderstorms and the strongest winds were occurring in that ring of storms. Bands of showers and thunderstorms were revolving around the core of Hurricane Kay. Storms near the core generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away from the hurricane in all directions.

The circulation around Hurricane Kay was large. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Kay’s circulation. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 230 miles (370 km) from the center. The Hurricane Intensity Index (HII) for Hurricane Kay was 16.5. The Hurricane Size Index (HSI) was 11.3 and the Hurricane Wind Intensity Size Index (HWISI) was 27.8. Kay was capable of causing regional serious damage.

Hurricane Kay will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 18 hours. Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 28˚C. It will move through a region where the upper level winds are weak and there will be little wind shear. Hurricane Kay will intensify during the next 18 hours. Kay could strengthen to a major hurricane.

Hurricane Kay will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Kay toward the north-northwest during the next 24 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Kay will approach the west coast of Baja California south of Punta Eugenia on Thursday morning. Kay will bring strong winds to the portion of the coast near Punta Eugenia. Bands on the eastern side of Hurricane Kay will drop locally heavy rain over much of Baja California. Heavy rain is likely to cause flash floods in some locations. Widespread outages of electricity could occur in Baja California.

Kay Causes Hurricane Watch for Baja California

A potential risk posed by Hurricane Kay caused the government of Mexico to issue a Hurricane Watch for a portion of the coast of Baja California. At 5:00 p.m. EDT on Tuesday the center of Hurricane Kay was located at latitude 18.8°N and longitude 111.0°W which put it about 290 miles (470 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. Kay was moving toward the northwest at 15 m.p.h. (24 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 85 m.p.h. (135 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 100 m.p.h. (160 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 978 mb.

A Hurricane Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto Cortes to Punta Eugenia, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Abreojos to Santa Rosalia, Mexico. The Tropical Storm Warning included Cabo San Lucas. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Santa Rosalia to Bahia De Los Angeles, Mexico. A Tropical Storm Watch was in effect for the portion of the coast from Punta Eugenia to San Jose De Las Palmas, Mexico.

Hurricane Kay strengthened slowly on Tuesday afternoon. An eye appeared intermittently at the center of Kay’s circulation. A partial ring of thunderstorms surrounded the eye. The strongest storms were in the southeastern part of the ring and that was where the strongest winds were occurring. Most of the thunderstorms were in bands in the southern half of Hurricane Kay. Bands in the northern half of the circulation consisted primarily of showers and lower clouds. Storms near the center of Kay’s circulation generated upper level divergence that pumped mass away to the south and west of the hurricane. Winds to hurricane force extended out 30 miles (50 km) from the center of Kay. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 200 miles (320 km) from the center of circulation.

Hurricane Kay will move through an environment favorable for intensification during the next 36 hours. Kay will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperatures are near 29˚C. It will move under the southern part of an upper level ridge centered over the Southwest U.S. The upper level ridge will produce northerly winds that will blow toward the top of Kay’s circulation. Those winds will cause some vertical wind shear. The wind shear will slow the rate of intensification, but Hurricane Kay is likely to strengthen during the next 24 hours. Kay will move closer to the axis of the ridge later on Wednesday. The upper level winds are weaker near the axis of the ridge and the wind shear will decrease. Hurricane Kay will intensify faster when the wind shear decreases. Kay could strengthen to a major hurricane, when the wind shear decreases.

Hurricane Kay will move around the southwestern part of a high pressure system over Mexico. The high pressure system will steer Kay toward the north-northwest during the next 36 hours. On its anticipated track, Hurricane Kay will approach the west coast of Baja California south of Punta Eugenia on Thursday morning. Kay could bring strong winds and locally heavy rain to Baja California. Heavy rain could cause flash floods in some locations.

Olaf Weakens to Tropical Storm over Southern Baja California

Former Hurricane Olaf weakened to a tropical storm when it passed over southern Baja California on Friday. At 2:00 p.m. EDT on Friday the center of Tropical Storm Olaf was located at latitude 24.5°N and longitude 112.2°W which put it about 20 miles (30 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lazaro, Mexico. Olaf was moving toward the northwest at 12 m.p.h. (19 km/h). The maximum sustained wind speed was 50 m.p.h. (80 km/h) and there were wind gusts to 80 m.p.h. (130 km/h). The minimum surface pressure was 997 mb.

A Tropical Storm Warning was in effect for the portion of the coast from Puerto San Andresito to Loreto. The Tropical Storm Warning included Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.

Former Hurricane Olaf weakened on Friday when the circulation passed over mountains in the southern part of Baja California. The low level center of circulation of Tropical Storm Olaf was visible on satellite images. The low level center was back over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean near Cabo San Lazaro. There were mainly showers and lower clouds near the low level center. Most of the thunderstorms were occurring in bands on the eastern side of Olaf that were over Baja California and the Gulf of California. Winds to tropical storm force extended out 70 miles (110 km) from the center of circulation. A weather station in Puerto Cortes, Mexico recently reported a sustained wind speed of 44 m.p.h. (70 km/h) and a wind gust of 53 m.p.h. (85 km/h).

Tropical Storm Olaf will move through an environment unfavorable for intensification during the next several days. Olaf will move over water where the Sea Surface Temperature is near 25˚C. The air over the cooler water is drier and more stable. Drier, more stable air will inhibit the develop of thunderstorms. If new thunderstorms do not form near the center of Tropical Storm Olaf during the next 12 hours, it will gradually weaken. Olaf is forecast to weaken to a tropical depression on Saturday.

The future track of Tropical Storm Olaf will depend on how fast Olaf weakens. If no new thunderstorms develop near the center of Olaf, then the tropical storm will be steered by the winds in the lower levels of the atmosphere. A surface high pressure system over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean is forecast to steer Tropical Storm Olaf toward the west-southwest during the weekend. On its anticipated track Tropical Storm Olaf will gradually move away from Baja California.